This is going to be hard for me to admit, mainly because it’s
more honest and embarrassing than I usually care to share. But I’ve been
thinking about clichés and how they got to be clichés. The answer has to be
because on some level, maybe even most levels, it is true. So here is a story
about a cliché that is actually a good one.
One thing you need to know about me is that Gideon is my
prayer spirit animal. He and I are definitely on the same page. In case his
story is not one you are familiar with, let me fill you in. God asked Gideon to
lead an army to take over a BIG army that was getting ready to go to war against
the Israelites. He wanted to believe that God got it right, but he needed to
make sure. So he gave God a test. He put out some fleece and told God if this
really was what he was supposed to do, let the fleece be wet and the ground dry
when he woke up the next day. If fact, he did it twice to guarantee it was not
an accident. (Spoiler alert: it wasn’t an accident. And Gideon defeated an army
with like 30 people because God’s awesome. Judges 6:11-8:21)
Anyway, I pray like that a lot. Sometimes I need God to give
me signs so I know I am hearing His voice and not some delusion I made
up. Most of the time, I use cars. Because God can make anything happen! He can
make any car pass me at any moment. And that’s how I pray.
As many stories seem to start, “so there was this boy…”. And
he was great. A real solid dude. The kind of dude that I thought maybe would be
the marrying type. So I got to praying.
I live by a bunch of car dealerships and one of them had
this bright purple jeep right in the front. I love a good jeep, but it was a
crazy bright purple! I figured the chances of it selling where about the same
as this guy realizing he was supposed to marry me. So I prayed and told (as if
I have any power) God that jeep was going to be my sign. When it wasn’t there
anymore, I would know something big was about to happen!
Every day I drove past that dealership, and every day that purple
jeep was still there. Then one day, I got to carve out some super intentional
and real time with God. I got to have a very honest conversation about where I
was at emotionally and literally cried out to Him. I knew that He loved me and
He was listening. So that was good enough for the moment.
That same day, I drove past that same dealership and the purple
jeep was gone. Then I heard it. “I needed you to know I am enough for you. Even
if this boy is not the one, I am still enough for you.” And you know what, He
is.
God is enough for you. He is literally all you need. You don’t
need that person or that job or that money or that car. God is enough. If fact,
He really is the only thing you need. But that’s phase 2. Realizing He is
enough is phase 1.
My point is this: prayer is powerful. Pray the bold prayers and
the scary prayers. The prayers maybe you are not even sure you want answered.
And yeah, the outcome might not be what you really hoped it would be. But that
doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pray it. Because often, it’s in those moments that
God shows up and reminds us exactly who He is.
“But He
said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient
for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast
all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest
upon me. For the sake
of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships,
persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
-2 Corinthians 12:9-10
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